Treat Your Job Search As Your Toughest Job

Jan 31st, 2011 | By Editor | Category: Employment News



Consider every activity in a job search part of a big challenge, a job, in fact. Begin your effort by creating a plan, just as entrepreneurs do when they seek funding for a start-up business. It should include the kind of job you are after, employers that interest you, and a decision as to whether you would be willing to relocate if the right job offer came along. Call on the best job search help you know, but rely on your own effort.

Then update your resume with the assistance of a professional resume writer and emphasize you major accomplishments and recent job experience. What should a professional resume look like? A quality professional resume writing service will take care of this question for you.

Taking the right approach

Someone once wisely said that “looking for a job is a job,” and you should be ready to devote as much time and energy to your search as you would to a full-time position. It should cover a variety of activities, including responding to job listings, researching potential employers to see if you would be a good fit, attending job fairs and going for interviews. Note that, in some cases, you may be interviewed by someone from Human Resources and called back later to discuss the job with your potential boss.

In an interview, make every effort to emphasize your skill as a problem-solver or cost-saver. In these difficult times, companies are trying to do more with less, and your interviewer may feel that you stand out from the rest and are the right person for the position they have open if you make the right impression.

Remember that networking is essential

Many career consultants and their clients feel that this is the best way to find a new job, especially when the job market is tight. Networking is a requirement so get good at it. Someone who works for a company that interests you can provide a recommendation, and that may be exactly what you need when only a few positions are open. Contacts who work in your chosen industry or belong to the same professional association may also be helpful.

Keep the following things in mind as you conduct your job search:

Consider every activity in a job search part of a big challenge, a job, in fact. Begin your effort by creating a plan, just as entrepreneurs do when they seek funding for a start-up business. It should include the kind of job you are after, employers that interest you, and a decision as to whether you would be willing to relocate if the right job offer came along. Call on the best job search help you know, but rely on your own effort.

Then update your resume with the assistance of a professional resume writer and emphasize you major accomplishments and recent job experience. What should a professional resume look like? A quality professional resume writing service will take care of this question for you.

Taking the right approach

Someone once wisely said that “looking for a job is a job,” and you should be ready to devote as much time and energy to your search as you would to a full-time position. It should cover a variety of activities, including responding to job listings, researching potential employers to see if you would be a good fit, attending job fairs and going for interviews. Note that, in some cases, you may be interviewed by someone from Human Resources and called back later to discuss the job with your potential boss.

In an interview, make every effort to emphasize your skill as a problem-solver or cost-saver. In these difficult times, companies are trying to do more with less, and your interviewer may feel that you stand out from the rest and are the right person for the position they have open if you make the right impression.

Remember that networking is essential

Many career consultants and their clients feel that this is the best way to find a new job, especially when the job market is tight. Networking is a requirement so get good at it. Someone who works for a company that interests you can provide a recommendation, and that may be exactly what you need when only a few positions are open. Contacts who work in your chosen industry or belong to the same professional association may also be helpful.

Keep the following things in mind as you conduct your job search:

- As your job hunt continues, you will have to deal with rejection, knowing that people are sometimes hired simply because they were in the right place at the right time, and a position had to be filled quickly. Remember that every time you are told, “We’ll keep your application on file and let you know when something opens up” brings you that much closer to “Can you start on Monday?”

- Avoid becoming discouraged when job hunting, and don’t be distracted by anything that would keep you from reaching your goal, even temporarily. Make every day a fresh start, and remember that it may be several months before you are hired.

- Be realistic in your expectations as well. That not only includes the salary you are looking for or the length of your commute, but the nature of the job as well. Remember, only you can determine if you need to make a career change, or if you should sign up for college courses to make yourself more employable. Aprofessional resume writer can assess your chances at the kinds of jobs you want, but the final decision is yours. You may also find that you have an opportunity to work on a project as an independent contractor or fill a part-time position. In either case, these opportunities can lead to a full-time job later on, and you will also be able to add more contacts to your professional network.

Paul Freiberger is President of Shimmering Resumes, a resume-writing, interview preparation, and career counseling service based in San Mateo, California. Paul is the author of several books and the winner of the Los Angeles Times book award. He offers resume writing services, job interview and job search campaign coaching nationwide. He can be reached at: Paul@shimmeringresumes.com, or, by phone at 877-796-9737. http://www.ShimmeringResumes.com


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